Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Friday he expects to announce his selection for the next police chief by the end of the month or sooner, amid reports Police Commission has narrowed in on department insiders as the top candidates.
The commissioners plan to shorten the list of 31 people who applied for the job down to three, from which Garcetti will select his choice. The chief must also be approved by the City Council.
Garcetti told reporters he has not been in contact with the commissioners about any personal choices he has for the next chief.
"There's a rumor a day, 'Oh Garcetti's guy or gal is this person.' All of those I can absolutely refute,'' Garcetti said. "I have not pushed a single person to apply. I have not pushed a single person to be my person. And I know almost all the people that applied. There are some people from outside agencies that I don't know."
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck announced in January that he will retire June 27, a year and a half before his second term ends. He has led the department since 2009.
Garcetti said he will interview all three of the top candidates and that their names will be publicly released unless the candidate had asked for their name to remain anonymous. He also said he will engage community leaders and City Council members for their opinion, and his chemistry with the candidates would be important.
"The chemistry between the chief and a mayor for the city is really important for the city to work well," he said. "We've known that in L.A. when the chemistry is not there, or worse than bad chemistry -- hostility. And the relationship I've had with Charlie has been absolutely invaluable."
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Citing an unnamed source, The Los Angeles Times reported that the list of top candidates interviewed by the commission this week includes Los Angeles Police Department Assistant Chief Michel Moore, Deputy Chief Robert Arcos, Deputy Chief Phil Tingirides and former Assistant Chief Sandy Jo MacArthur.
